Why the Blue Jays' ALDS rotation pitching plans make perfect sense

The kid, Trey Yesavage, has officially been named Game Two starter for the ALDS against the Yankees. Following Yesavage will be veteran Shane Bieber, as announced Saturday afternoon by Manager John Schneider.

Initially, it may seem 'unconventional' to pitch a rookie who's only made three career major league starts in the second game of the series, but after peeling a layer or two, it's the perfect decision, and the best case scenario for him.

Fans may feel that the best and most experienced pitcher (in Bieber) should earn the role closest to the top of the playoff rotation, but the methodical choice was made for a reason: throwing an inexperienced pitcher into the fire of Yankee Stadium is a mistake and Yesavage should be more comfortable at home, and if his outing doesn't go as well as expected, a rest day follows, giving the bullpen some time to recoup. In the press conference, Yesavage shut down any doubt that fans may have about him starting Game Two. "I'm built for this", he said.

Why the Blue Jays' ALDS rotation pitching plans make perfect sense

The 22-year-old will be pitching a playoff game just 14 months after being drafted. His rise to the big leagues was brief, as he dominated every minor league level with ease, launching himself through four levels in a year. Throughout his brief tenure with the major league club, he's shown that he's here to stay for a long while.

Across three starts, his ERA sits at 3.21, although his stuff plays even better than what his ERA shows. Two of his starts came on the road, a game versus the Rays in Steinbrenner Field, which holds a capacity of 11,000, as well as Kauffman Stadium, which isn't known for its turnouts either.

This is yet another reason why Schneider chose to throw the rookie at home for Game Two; he has next to no experience on the road in a stadium that's packed to the gills, like Yankee Stadium will be.

With Yesavage on the mound for Game Two of the ALDS, Bieber is set to start Game Three. Schneider trusts Bieber more on the road, which is a decision that many fans should agree with. Although Bieber was recovering from Tommy John surgery for over a year, he's been pitching like he'd never left.

The veteran doesn't have too much postseason experience, but he still seems like the right choice to start the first away game of the series, considering his track record over the years.

During the ALDS roster release on Saturday morning, a couple of notable pitchers were left off the team, including Hall-of-Famer pitcher Max Scherzer, who's struggled as of late, and Chris Bassit, who's been shelved on the injured list with back issues, although he showed signs of life in the second game of the intrasquad series.

In a shorter series like this one, it's easier to get away with Gausman, Yesavage, Bieber, and a bullpen day, if it gets there. Many fans may be concerned about a bullpen game, but the last bullpen game (on September 25th versus the Red Sox) was smooth sailing, as the bullpen only allowed a run. A bullpen day for Game Four could begin with Eric Lauer, while Louis Varland piggybacks.

With the rotation now set in stone, the Blue Jays are betting on a mix of veterans, a rookie, and a bullpen game. As for the rookie, Trey Yesavage, this test will be on the biggest stage of his young career. If he continues to pitch like he has been while generating incredible amounts of whiffs on his splitter (59%), he will be in great shape versus the Yankees.